A pilot study to evaluate the success and survival rate of titanium-zirconium implants in partially edentulous patients: results after 24 months of follow-up

Implants made from a new titanium-zirconium (TiZr) alloy (Roxolid) have shown good osseointegration with no adverse effects in animal studies. This single-cohort pilot study was performed to evaluate the performance and safe use of reduced-diameter implants made from this new TiZr alloy for the first time in human subjects, in a prospective case-controlled series.

Low rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococcal colonization of veterinary personnel in Hong Kong

Elevated rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage have been reported in veterinary personnel, suggesting an occupational colonization risk. Hong Kong veterinary personnel (n = 150) were sampled for coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) nasal colonization. Risk factors for colonization were assessed by questionnaire. Isolates were identified and antibiotic susceptibility determined. All CPS isolates were investigated for mecA carriage, SCCmec type and PVL genes. Two subjects were colonized with methicillin-resistant CPS: one with MRSA (spa type t002 (CC5), SCCmec type II) and one with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) (MLST type ST71, SCCmec type II-III). MLST type ST71 S. pseudintermedius strain is the predominant MRSP clone circulating in dogs in Europe and in Hong Kong. The low MR-CPS colonization rate may be associated with low levels of large animal exposure or low rates of MRSA colonization of companion animals in Hong Kong. Colonization with non-aureus CPS, which may cause human infection, must also be considered in veterinary personnel.

Comparison of brain PrPd distribution in ovine BSE and scrapie

Scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) are both prion diseases affecting ruminants, and these diseases do not share the same public health concerns. Surveillance of the BSE agent in small ruminants has been a great challenge, and the recent identification of diverse prion diseases in ruminants has led to the development of new methods for strain typing. In our study, using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we assessed the distribution of PrP(d) in the brains of 2 experimentally BSE-infected sheep with the ARQ/ARQ genotype. Distribution of PrP(d) in the brain, from the spinal cord to the frontal cortex, was remarkably similar in the 2 sheep despite different inoculation routes and incubation periods. Comparatively, overall PrP(d) brain distribution, evaluated by IHC, in 19 scrapie cases with the ARQ/ARQ, ARQ/VRQ, and VRQ/VRQ genotypes, in some cases showed similarities to the experimentally BSE-infected sheep. There was no exclusive neuroanatomical site with a characteristic and specific PrP(d) type of accumulation induced by the BSE agent. However, a detailed analysis of the topography, types, and intensity of PrP(d) deposits in the frontal cortex, striatum, piriform cortex, hippocampus, mesencephalon, and cerebellum allowed the BSE-affected sheep group to be distinguished from the 19 scrapie cases analyzed in our study. These results strengthen and emphasize the potential interest of PrP(d) brain mapping to help in identifying prion strains in small ruminants.

Morbidity rate of reoperation in thyroid surgery: a different point of view

Goitre recurrence is a common problem following subtotal thyroid gland resection for multinodular goitre disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate morbidity rate in relation to the side of initial and redo-surgery for recurrent disease.

High acceptance rate of hybrid allogeneic-autologous umbilical cord blood banking among actual and potential Swiss donors

Two competitive concepts of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking are currently available: either allogeneic UCB is donated to a public bank or autologous cells are stored in a private bank. Allogeneic-autologous hybrid banking is a new concept that combines these two approaches. However, acceptance of hybrid UCB banking among potential donors is unknown to date.

Different fever definitions and the rate of fever and neutropenia diagnosed in children with cancer: a retrospective two-center cohort study

Background. The definition of fever, and thus fever and neutropenia (FN), varies between different pediatric oncology centers. Higher temperature limit should reduce FN rates, but may increase rates of FN with complications by delaying therapy. This study determined if different fever definitions are associated with different FN rates. Procedure. Two pediatric oncology centers had used three fever definitions in 2004–2011: ear temperature >=38.5°C persisting >=2 hours (low definition); axillary temperature >=38.5°C >=2 hours or >=39.0°C once (middle); and ear temperature >=39.0°C once (high). Clinical information was retrospectively extracted from charts. FN rates were compared using mixed Poisson regression. Results. In 521 pediatric patients with cancer, 783 FN were recorded during 6,009 months cumulative chemotherapy exposure time (501 years; rate, 0.13/month [95% CI, 0.12–0.14]), 124 of them with bacteremia (16%; 0.021/month [0.017–0.025]). In univariate analysis, the high versus low fever definition was associated with a lower FN rate (0.10/month [0.08–0.11] vs. 0.15/month [0.13–0.16]; rate ratio, 0.66 [0.45–0.97]; P ¼ 0.036), the middle definition was intermediate (0.13/month [0.11–0.15]). This difference was not confirmed in multivariate analysis (rate ratio, 0.94 [0.67–1.33]; P ¼ 0.74). The high versus low definition was not associated with an increased rate of FN with bacteremia (multivariate rate ratio, 1.39 [0.53–3.62]; P ¼ 0.50). Conclusion. A higher fever definition was not associated with a lower FN rate, nor with an increased rate of FN with bacteremia. These may be false negative findings due to methodological limitations. These questions, with their potential impact on health-related quality of life, and on costs, need to be assessed in prospective studies.